Joann Flower Explained

Joann Flower
State House:Kansas
District:47th
Term Start:1989
Term End:2000
Predecessor:Robin Leach
Successor:Lee Tafanelli
State House1:Kansas
District1:47th
Term Start1:2005
Term End1:2005
Predecessor1:Lee Tafanelli
Successor1:Lee Tafanelli
Birth Date:1935 5, mf=yes[1]
Birth Place:Elkhart, Kansas
Residence:Oskaloosa, Kansas
Spouse:Paul Flower[2]
Children:2
Party:Republican
Alma Mater:Johns Hopkins University[3]

Joann Flower (born May 6, 1935) is an American former politician who served for six terms in the Kansas House of Representatives, as well as an additional year after her initial stint.

Flower was born and raised in rural western Kansas. She attended Johns Hopkins University and worked as a nurse before returning to Kansas, marrying her husband Paul, and raising two children. She got involved in local Republican politics, serving as a county chair for U.S. Senator Nancy Kassebaum and managing a friend's campaign for Jefferson County commissioner, and decided to run for the Kansas House herself in the 1988 elections.[3] She successfully unseated 12-year incumbent Robin D. Leach, and served for six terms in the House; she was succeeded in 2001 by fellow Republican Lee Tafanelli.

In 2005, Tafanelli, still serving in the Kansas House, was deployed to Iraq due to his service in the Kansas National Guard as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Flower was appointed to fill his seat while he was deployed, and served for an additional year during 2005; after Tafanelli's return from overseas, he resumed his seat.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kansas Legislators, Past and Present - Flower, Joann . . kslib.info . State Library of Kansas . December 22, 2022.
  2. Web site: Flower, Joann E. - Kansas Legislative Handbook . . 1991 . Kansas Government Information Online Library . December 22, 2022.
  3. Web site: Interview of Joann Flowers by Sara Tucker . Tucker, Sara . February 1, 1991 . Kansas Government Information Online Library . December 22, 2022.
  4. Web site: Kansas Legislators, Past and Present - Tafanelli, Lee . . kslib.info . State Library of Kansas . December 22, 2022.